National Pie Day

National Pie Day History

National Pie Day seeks to celebrate all things pie, a tribute to a staple dish that has conquered the world in myriad flavours and forms, from savoury to sweet. It invites everyone to indulge in their favourite type of pie, and perhaps even experiment with new flavours or recipes. It's a day that highlights the diversity and culinary richness that pies represent in different cultures. Being a versatile dish, pies speak of comfort food, family traditions, and creative cookery to people world over.

In the United Kingdom, National Pie Day holds specific relevance due to the unmistakable affinity the British have for pies. Pies have a long history in British culinary tradition, dating back to the 12th century. Notable variants such as Cornish pasty, steak and kidney pie, and the pork pies of Melton Mowbray are quintessential elements of British cuisine. Each region in the UK, in fact, has its own special pie, serving as delicious snapshots of its gastronomical heritage. Hence, for the British, this day is about celebrating this cherished food item with a gust of patriotic pride.

While it is not an official observance, on National Pie Day, pies become the hero of kitchen endeavours and food-centric events across the UK. Individuals, families, and even restaurants, pubs or bakeries join in to serve and relish a wide array of pies. Some amateur and professional chefs also participate in pie-making competitions, making it an event of robust community participation. Pie-themed charity fundraisers are also a popular way to observe the day while contributing to society.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 National Pie Day in the UK

• National Pie Day, celebrated on 23rd January, often serves as a culinary precursor to the much larger British Pie Week, which is scheduled to take place from 2nd to 8th March in 2026.
• In medieval England, the pastry cases of pies were commonly referred to as coffyns, which were thick, hard shells intended primarily for preserving and cooking the meat inside rather than being eaten.
• Historical records suggest that the first fresh fruit pie ever recorded was a cherry pie served to Queen Elizabeth I during the 16th century.
• A significant piece of British trivia involves the 1644 ban on mince pies by Oliver Cromwell, who viewed the festive treats as a symbol of gluttony and religious excess.
• Pie enthusiasts in the United Kingdom once launched a formal petition to Parliament in 2015, demanding that a dish should only be legally defined as a "pie" if it features a full pastry base and sides rather than just a puff pastry lid.
• The Scotch Pie, traditionally filled with minced mutton and served in a straight-sided hot water crust, remains a staple of British "football culture" and is a particularly popular search topic for those attending winter matches.
• Regional variations often pique interest, such as the Wigan Kebab, a local delicacy from Greater London’s northern counterparts where a meat and potato pie is served inside a buttered barm cake.
• The 2013 romantic thriller Labor Day, starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, became an unlikely cultural reference for the day due to a highly publicised and sensuous pie-making scene that led to a formal partnership with the American Pie Council.
• Many UK residents use the January observance to look ahead to the British Pie Awards, an annual competition held in Melton Mowbray that crowns the finest examples of the craft across the country.
• Despite the global popularity of sweet varieties, the United Kingdom maintains a distinct preference for savoury options, with steak and ale consistently ranking as the nation's most beloved filling in annual consumer polls.

In the News and Trending in the UK for National Pie Day

Top things to do in the UK for National Pie Day

• Visit your local bakery and check out what kind of pies they're offering. There might be special deals for National Pie Day.
• Make a Pie, here are the most popular in the UK in descending order: cottage pie, apple pie, fish pie, pumpkin pie